Eighteen sophomore trotting colts have entered into the $303,340 Zweig Memorial Trot on Friday night at Tioga Downs
. Sixteen of the 18 trotters are eligible to the $1.7 million dollar Hambletonian on Saturday, August 8th at The Meadowlands.
In the first $151,670 division the entry of Cruisealong, Citation Lindy, and Even Better Odds have been given the nod as the morning line favourite. Citation Lindy, who is trained and driven by Ray Schnittker, finished second in the Dickerson Cup at The Meadowlands last week behind trotting sensation Explosive Matter. The three-year-old Cantab Hall-Benedicta colt will leave from post position number two, and is three for seven on the season with a mark of 1:54.4 at Chester Downs, with earnings of more than $84,000. Entry mate Even Better Odds, who is trained by Churck Sylvester, will be driven by North America’s leading driver Tim Tetrick. The duo will leave from post position five in race number eight. The three-year-old Cantab Hall-Better Odds colt has been lightly raced thus far in 2009, sporting a record of one win in three starts on the season.
Although the entry will have to take on the top two trotters from the Empire State in Judge Joe and Russell Hill. These two New York bred trotters were scheduled to duel it out on June 26th at Yonkers Raceway in a sire stake event, but Judge Joe was scratched sick that night and this will be his first start back. The three-year-old Credit Winner-Judge Judy colt is a perfect four for four in 2009 with a mark of 1:57.2 at Hazel Park and earnings of more than $69,000. Russell Hill has posted five wins in eight starts in 2009 including the $206,275 Empire Breeder’s Classic Final at Vernon Downs. The three-year-old Conway Hall-Southwind Maywood colt is trained by Jimmy Takter, while Hall of Famer John Campbell will be at the controls.
The $151,670 second division is led by Goodtimes runner up Truth In Action for trainer Blair Burgess and driver Tim Tetrick. The three-year-old Cantab Hall-Cressida Hanover colt missed by a half a length to Federal Flex (Jody Jamieson) in the final at Mohawk on June 27th. Truth In Action has yet to miss the board in six starts in 2009 and has posted three wins with a mark of 1:56.1, and earnings of more than $105,000.
Also in the second division looking to get back on track is 2008 New York Sire Stakes Champion Donttelllmywife. The three-year-old Malabar Man-Nowerland Sweet T gelding was a perfect seven for seven in 2008, and currently holds a record of one win and two seconds in four starts in 2009. Usual pilot Jeff Gregory has been listed to drive Donttellmywife for trainer George Ducharme.
The fields for the Zweig Memorial Open Trot are listed below:
$151,670 Zweig Memorial Open Trot (Race 8)
# - PP - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1 - 1 - Cruisealong - Mike Lachance - Ron Gurfein
1a - 2 - Citation Lindy - Ray Schnittker - Ray Schnittker
1b - 5 - Even Better Odds - Tim Tetrick - Chuck Sylvester
2 - 3 - Hurrikanebiggeorge - Jeff Gregory - John McDermott
3 - 4 - Russell Hill - John Campbell - Jimmy Takter
4 - 6 - Judge Joe - DR Ackerman - Doug Ackerman
5 - 7 - Neighsay Hanover - Howard Parker - Trond Smedshammer
6 - 8 - Celebrity Cowboy - Jim Marohn Jr. - Staffan Lind
7 - 9 - Salutation Hanover - Wally Hennessey - Ronald Burke
$151,670 Zweig Memorial Open Trot (Race 9)
# - PP - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1 - 3 - Copy Catch - John Campbell - Jimmy Takter
1a - 4 - Road Rash - Marcus Johansson - Marcus Johansson
2 - 1 - Spin Spankey Spin - Fern Paquet Jr. - Dan Daley
3 - 2 Tad The Stud - Ray Schnittker - Ray Schnittker
4 - 5 - Knoxtrot Hall - Mike Lachance - Linda Toscano
5 - 6 - Donttellmywife - Jeff Gregory - George Ducharme
6 - 7 - Truth In Action - Tim Tetrick - Blair Burgess
7 - 8 - Manningly - Wally Hennessey - Larry Rathbone
8 - 9 - Calchips Brute - Jim Marohn Jr. - Trond Smedshammer
Co-Featured on the Friday night card at Tioga Downs is the Zweig Memorial Trot for three-year-old filly trotters. Twenty-seven sophomore trotting fillies were split into three nine horse fields going for $45,447 per division. Fifteen of the 27 trotting fillies are eligible for the Hamletonian Oaks, seven of which are in the first division slated for race number five on the card.
Leading what looks to be the strongest division for the fillies is Whispering Wind and Mike Simons for trainer Roland Mallar. The three-year-old Broadway Hall-Wild Pine filly has posted four wins in seven starts that include two Pennsylvania Sire Stake victories at The Meadows. In her last start, Whispering Wind came first over to win by more than four lengths in 1:55.4.
Looking to rebound from an usual miscue at Goshen is 2008 New York Sire Stakes Champion Shes So Savvy. The three-year-old Malabar Man-Twitty filly is trained by Jessica Okusko and is driven by Howard Okusko Jr. Thus far in 2009 Shes So Savvy has posted two wins, a second, and a third in five starts with a mark of 1:58.1 in a qualifier at Vernon Downs.
In the second divison Michelles Way will look to make it three in a row in New York. The three-year-old Conway Hall-Miss Michelle H filly has posted a fifty percent win rate in 2009 by posting three wins in six starts for trainer Ken Rucker. The $95,000 yearling filly has drawn post position three, and Jim Morrill Jr. has been listed on the driving assignment.
Brandnewgirlfriend will be seeking her fifth win in a row on Friday night for trainer Paul Kelley, but will have to do so from post position nine. The Conway Hall-Tiffany Gold daughter was purchased for $80,000 at the Harrisburg Yearling sale in 2007, but was unraced as a two-year-old. Brandnewgirlfriend has posted three straight New York Sire Stake victories including one at Buffalo Raceway and two at Yonkers.
In the third and final division Southwind Wasabi, who finished third in last year’s $700,000 Breeder’s Crown to Honorable Daughter will look for victory. The Windsongs Legacy-Winkys Star filly was purchased for just $22,000 at the Harrisburg sale in 2007 and has banked over $169,000 already in just thirteen lifetime starts. John Campbell has been listed to drive by trainer and co-owner Chuck Sylvester.
Below are the fields for the three divisions of the Zweig Filly Trot:
$45,477 Zweig Filly Trot (Race 5)
PP - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1 - Wedding Dress - John Campbell - Chuck Sylvester
2 - Celebrity Athena - Marcus Johansson - Staffan Lind
3 - Please Lady - Mike Lachance - Ron Gurfein
4 - Atia - Wally Hennessey - Paul Kelley
5 - Noisy Nellie - Jeff Gregory - Jonas Czernyson
6 - Shes So Savvy - Howard Okusko Jr. - Jessica Okusko
7 - Tonis Wink - Howard Parker - Oyvind Hegdal
8 - Whispering Wind - Jim Marohn Jr. - Roland Mallar
9 - I Wanted Wings - Tim Tetrick - Ross Croghan
$45,477 Zweig Filly Trot (Race 6)
PP - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1 - Gabbys Gambol - John Campbell - Trond Smedshammer
2 - Neiths Song - Jim Marohn Jr. - Jonas Czernyson
3 - Michelles Way - Mike Lachance - Ken Rucker
4 - Gift Card - Tim Tetrick - Frank Antonacci
5 - So You De Vie - Howard Parker - Oyvin Hedgal
6 - On With The Show - Howard Okusko Jr. - Judith Blaun
7 - No Ifs Here - Ray Schnittker - Ray Schnittker
8 - Up In Class - Jeff Gregory - Jan Johnson
9 - Brandnewgirlfriend - Wally Hennessey - Paul Kelley
$45,477 Zweig Filly Trot (Race 7)
PP - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1 - Sister Marcy - Howard Okusko Jr. - David Dewhurst
2 - O Dana O - Ray Schnittker - Karen Garland
3 - Southwind Wasabi - John Campbell - Chuck Sylvester
4 - Porque - Jeff Gregory - Linda Toscano
5 - Fleur De Vie - Howard Parker - Oyvind Hegdal
6 - Naughty Nana - Wally Hennessey - Brian Connor
7 - Lindys RN - Tim Tetrick - Frank Antonacci
8 - Celebrity Juliet - Mike Lachance - Staffan Lind
9 - Valotta - Jim Marohn Jr. - Jonas Czernyson
Tioga Downs will also hold its first annual Miss Tioga Downs contest on Friday night, in which the contestants will be judged on three categories including casual wear, swim suits, and an evening gown. The winner of the Miss Tioga Downs contest will walk away with $1,500 cash and a chance at the Miss Planet Beach contest in Reno, Nevada in October. Ladies wishing to enter the contest should contact Patrick Coleman, Regional Racing Marketing Manager at [email protected] or 607-226-8683.
(Tioga Downs)